If there is a fine line between success and failure, a manager in search of a stress-free life might be looking for the elusive area between underachievement and overachievement. Underperform and his position comes into question. Exceed expectations and he is challenged to do even better. Even repeating his earlier exploits can bring suggestions his side have not progressed.

Such are the problems that confront Garry Monk, Tony Pulis and Alan Pardew this season. They have set the bar high. In their...

Jonjo Shelvey was a stalwart for Swansea in 2014-15, appearing in 31 matches.

Swansea's concentration on squad building isn't just about adding new talent. The addition of players like Andre Ayew, Franck Tabanou and Eder has been exciting to watch, but these players have been brought in to supplement rather than replace the existing squad. With that in mind, Jonjo Shelvey's new contract extension is every bit as important to the future of the club as his new teammates should prove to be.

Shelvey's move to Swansea from Liverpool in the summer of 2013 was greeted with mixed...

Swansea's new signing Andre Ayew has scored 44 league goals for his previous club in Marseille.

Pele once said that an African nation would win a World Cup before the year 2000. He was wrong, but he did recognise the rising star of African football. The quarterfinals are as far as Africa has gone in football's biggest contest, with Ghana the nation to do so most recently, in 2010.

Fittingly, one of the greatest African footballers of all time was also a Ghanaian: Abedi Ayew, christened Abedi Pele after the Brazilian great in recognition of his skills. On Wednesday, Abedi Pele's son, Andre...

Garry Monk is aiming to improve on Swansea's eighth place finish from last season as Europa League qualification is a target for next season.

After a fantastically successful first full season as Swansea manager, Garry Monk is not about to rest on his laurels. He has already started shaping next season's squad a mere week and a half after this season's finale.

While the gaze of the football world turns toward the Champions League final, Monk is instead fixated on this August. He has already extended defender Neil Taylor's contract, released goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel and lined-up potential deals for a new left-back and goalkeeper.